Work stations for manicurists

ABSTRACT

Work stations for nail technicians are provided. In this regard, a representative work station, among others, includes a center console module having front, rear, top, and bottom walls. The rear wall includes holes at the proximal end and distal end for storing a nail drill device. The rear wall further includes an opening for storing a control unit of a nail drill device. The opening is adjacent to the holes at one of the proximal end and distal end. The rear wall further includes a drawer positioned between the holes at the proximal end and distal end. The work station further includes two end modules that are coupled to the center console module, forming a “U” shape configuration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to copending U.S. provisionalapplication entitled “MODULAR MANCURIST STATION,” having Ser. No.61/011,281, filed on Jan. 16, 2008, which is entirely incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to work stations and, moreparticularly, is related to work stations for manicurists.

BACKGROUND

In the nail industry, a nail technician keeps multiple nail products andgrooming supplies at a work station. However, the nail products andgrooming supplies often get lost in crowded countertops or drawers andresult in spills.

SUMMARY

Work stations for nail technicians are provided. In this regard, arepresentative work station, among others, includes a center consolemodule having front, rear, top, and bottom walls. The rear wall includesholes at the proximal end and distal end for storing a nail drilldevice. The rear wall further includes an opening for storing a controlunit of a nail drill device. The opening is adjacent to the holes at oneof the proximal end and distal end. The rear wall further includes adrawer positioned between the holes at the proximal end and distal end.The work station further includes two end modules that are coupled tothe center console module, forming a “U” shape configuration.

The end modules can include a first end module having front, rear, top,bottom, left and right side walls. The top wall includes holes forhanging a lamp or drill. The bottom wall is coupled to transportingmechanisms. The rear wall includes a cabinet that is coupled to one ofthe left and right side walls via at least one hinge. The inner surfaceof the cabinet is attached with a bottle organizer.

The end modules can further include a second end module having front,rear, top, bottom, left and right side walls. The top wall includesholes for hanging a lamp or drill. The bottom wall is coupled totransporting mechanisms. The rear wall includes at least one drawer forstoring at least one of the following: buffing blocks, files, tools,bottles, cotton, and trash.

The end modules can further include a third end module that has a flatstructure with a proximal end and distal end. The proximal end iscoupled to one of the side ends of the center console module and thedistal end is coupled to transporting mechanisms.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponexamination of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, features, andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a rear view of an embodiment of a work station in accordancewith the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the work station, such as that shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an end module of a workstation, such as that shown in FIG. 1, having a bottle organizer;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are top views of an embodiment of the top and bottom wallsof the bottle organizer, respectively, such as that shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an end module of awork station, such as that shown in FIG. 1, having a bottle organizer;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of another embodiment of a work station, such asthat shown in FIG. 1, that includes an end module being a flatstructure; and

FIG. 8 is a rear view of another embodiment of a work station, such asthat shown in FIG. 1, that can be utilized by two manicurists.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary work stations are first discussed with reference to thefigures. Although these work stations are described in detail, they areprovided for purposes of illustration only and various modifications arefeasible.

FIG. 1 is a rear view of an embodiment of a work station 150 inaccordance with the disclosure. The work station 150 includes a centerconsole module 152 having front wall 102, rear wall 104, top wall 106,and bottom wall 108. The top wall 106 of the center console module 152includes an arm rest 192 placed adjacent to the front wall 102 of thecenter console module 152. The rear wall 104 includes holes 164 a, 164 bat the proximal end 112 and distal end 114 for storing, e.g., a naildrill device 182 and other devices that should be appreciated by aperson of ordinary skill in the art. The holes 164 a, 164 b havediameters such that either electrical wires and/or the nail drill devicecan pass through them. The rear wall 104 further includes an opening 160for housing, e.g., a control unit 180 of a nail drill device and otherdevices that should be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in theart. The opening 160 has a height that is substantially the height ofthe rear wall 104.

In this example, the opening 160 is adjacent to the holes 164 b at thedistal end 114 of the center console module 152. The rear wall 104further includes a drawer 162 positioned between the holes 164 a, 164 bat the proximal end 112 and distal end 114. The drawer 162 can storenail drill device (not shown) and includes holes 165 that allowsextendable or telescoping attachments 184, e.g., electrical wires, toextend outside of the drawer 162. It should be appreciated that thedrawer 162 and opening 160 can be configured to house or store varioustools and other devices that can be employed by a manicurist in themanicuring process. It should also be appreciated that holes 164 a, 164b, 165 may be used for extendable or telescoping attachments or anyapparatus configured to work in conjunction with other manicuristdevices housed in the opening 160 and/or drawer 162. The work station150 further includes two end modules 154, 156 that are coupled to thecenter console module 152, forming a “U” shape configuration.

The end modules 154, 156 may be attached to the center console module152 using connecting devices or apparatuses that should be appreciatedby a person of ordinary skill in the art. Such connecting devices mayinclude, but are not limited to: dowels, screws, hinges, tongue andgroove fasteners, or other connecting devices that are known in the art.The center console module 152 can be connected to various end modulesother than the end modules 154, 156 shown in FIG. 1, which are furtherdescribe in relation to FIG. 3 and 6-8.

The end module 156 includes front wall 122, rear wall 124, top wall 126,bottom wall 128, left and right side walls 125, 127. The top wall isattached with a fan and having at least one hole 188 for hanging a lamp186 or drill (not shown). The bottom wall 128 is coupled to transportingmechanisms 174, such as casters, which allows the entire modular table150 to be portable. It should be appreciated that such transportingmechanism may include, but not limited to, casters, wheels, or othertransporting mechanisms known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.The rear wall includes a cabinet 129, which is further described inrelation to FIG. 6. The top wall 126 includes a cut-out portion in whicha fan 176 can be placed inside the cut-out portion such that the fan 176is flush with the top surface 178 of the top wall 126.

The end module 154 includes front wall 132, rear wall 134, top wall 136,bottom wall 138, left and right side walls 135, 137. The top wall 136includes at least one hole 190 for hanging a lamp or drill (not shown).The bottom wall 138 is coupled to transporting mechanisms 172. The rearwall 134 includes three drawers 158, 159, 170 for storing at least oneof the following: buffing blocks, files, tools, bottles, cotton, andtrash.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the work station 150, such as that shown inFIG. 1. The center console module 152 and end modules 154, 156 areviewed from the perspective of a customer or person receiving amanicure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an end module 350 of awork station 150, such as that shown in FIG. 1, having a bottleorganizer 300. The end module 350 includes top and bottom drawers 318,320 and a cabinet 322 that houses the bottle organizer 300. The cabinet322 is placed between the top and bottom drawers 318, 320. In thisexample, the cabinet 322 includes a door 314 that is coupled to rightside walls via at least one hinge (not shown). The inner surface 324 ofthe cabinet 322 is attached with the bottle organizer 300.

The bottle organizer 300 includes a first sidewall 302 and a secondsidewall 304, each having a proximal end 332, 342 and a distal end334,.344, respectively. The second sidewall 304 is attached to the innersurface of the door 314 of the cabinet 322. The distal end 344 of thesecond sidewall 304 is attached to the distal end 334 of the firstsidewall 302 in a normal position. The bottle organizer 300 furtherincludes a top wall 306 and bottom wall 308 that are attached to the topand bottom portions of the first and second sidewalls 302, 304,respectively.

The top and bottom walls 306, 308 of the bottle organizer 300 eachhaving two straight sides 336, 338, 346, 348 and a semi-circular side310, 312. The inner surfaces at the straight sides 336, 338, 346, 348 ofthe top and bottom walls 306, 308 are attached to the first and secondsidewalls 302, 304, respectively. The semi-circular side 310 of the topwall 306 includes at indentations 420 (FIG. 4). The top and bottom walls306, 308 have a semi-circular shape, but can have other shapes as can beappreciated. The bottle organizer 300 is further described in relationto FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are top views of an embodiment of the top and bottom walls306, 308 of the bottle organizer 300, respectively, such as that shownin FIG. 3. The top wall 306 includes a first hole 414 and a first set416 of holes with various diameters. The first hole 414 has a smallerdiameter than the first set 416 of holes. The first hole 414 is placedadjacent to the corner where the straight sides 336, 338 connect. Thetop wall 306 further includes at least one recess 418, 419.

In this example, the at least one recess 418, 419 includes a firstrecess 419 and first set 418 of recesses. The first set 418 of recesseshas a diameter smaller than the first recess and the diameter of thefirst recess 419 is smaller than the diameter of the first hole 414. Thefirst set 418 of recesses has a diameter smaller than the first recess419. The first set 418 of recesses is placed adjacent to thesemi-circular side 310, which includes indentations 420 that are placedbetween the first set 418 of recesses. The first set 416 of holes isplaced between the first hole 414 and the first set 418 of recesses. Thefirst recess 419 is placed substantially in the center of the top wall306 surrounded by the first hole 414, first set 416 of holes, and firstset 418 of recesses.

The bottom wall 308 includes a first recess 514, second recess 519, afirst set 516 of recesses, and a second set 518 of recesses with variousdiameters. The first set 516 of recesses has a diameter smaller than thefirst recess 514. The second recess 519 has a diameter smaller than thefirst set 516 of recesses. The second set 518 of recesses has a diametersmaller than the second recess 519.

In this example, the second set 518 of recesses are placed adjacent tothe semi-circular side 312. The first recess 514 is placed adjacent tothe corner where the straight sides 346, 348 connect. The first set 516of recesses is placed between the first recess 514 and the second set518 of recesses. The second recess 519 is placed substantially in thecenter of the bottom wall 308 surrounded by the first recess 514, firstset 516 of recesses, and second set 518 of recesses. The first recess514 and the first set 516 of recesses of the bottom wall 308 are alignedwith the first hole 414 and first set 416 of holes of the top wall 306,respectively, for containing long bottles or containers that registerthrough the holes 414, 416. The first recess 419 and first set 418 ofrecesses of the top wall and the second recess 519 and the second set518 of recesses of the bottom wall 308 contain shorter bottles orcontainers. The bottles or containers generally store nail products andgrooming supplies, such as polishes, and glue, of various sizes, forminga two-tier storage rack. Brushes can be hung on the indentations 420.

In one embodiment, the bottle organizer 300 can hold one 16 ouncebottle, two 8 ounce bottles, and six smaller bottles per tier, such aspolishes, glue, and brushes. In another embodiment, the bottle organizer300 can be mounted on the inside of a cabinet door 314 (FIG. 3) orplaced on a counter of the work station 150. In other embodiments, thebottle organizer 300 can be used for keeping kitchen supplies and spicesorganized in kitchen cabinets or on cupboard shelves.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an end module 650of a work station 150, such as that shown in FIG. 1, having a bottleorganizer 300. The end module 650 includes a cabinet 629 that includes adoor 602, top shelf 606 and bottom shelf 608, the shelves 606, 608 ofwhich are separated by a shelf 604. It should be noted that the shelf604 can be adjusted to change the height of the top and bottom shelves606, 608. The shelf 604 includes an electrical port 610 that allowselectrical wires to be passed between the top and bottom shelves 606,608. It should be noted that the portion of the left sidewall of the endmodule 650 that is connected with the center console module 152 caninclude a port (not shown) for allowing electrical wires of the naildrill devices to pass through from the center console module 152 to theend module 650. A power cord 612 with at least one outlet can be storedin the bottom shelf 608 that has a port (not shown) on the bottom wallof the end module 650 so that the power cord can be electricallyconnected to an outlet.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of another embodiment of a work station 150, suchas that shown in FIG. 1, that includes an end module 702 being a flatstructure. The center console module 152 is attached to the end module350, such as that shown in FIG. 3. The center console module 152 is alsoattached to the end module 702 that is a flat structure having aproximal end 704 and distal end 706. The proximal end 704 is coupled tothe center console module 152 and the distal end 706 is coupled totransporting mechanisms 708, such as casters.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of another embodiment of a work station 850, suchas that shown in FIG. 1, that can be utilized by two manicurists. Thework station 850 includes an end module 154 (FIG. 1) that is placedbetween two center console modules 152 a, 152 b. The left and right endsof the center console modules 152 a, 152 b are connected to two endmodules 650 a, 650 b (FIG. 6), respectively. It should be noted that thecabinet door of the end module 650 a has been modified to open fromright to left and pivot on the left side wall of the end module 650 a.

This description has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thedisclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications orvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodimentsdiscussed, however, were chosen to illustrate the principles of thedisclosure, and its practical application. The disclosure is thusintended to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to use thedisclosure, in various embodiments and with various modifications, asare suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modificationsand variation are within the scope of this disclosure, as determined bythe appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth towhich they are fairly and legally entitled.

1. A work station comprising: a center console module having front,rear, top, and bottom walls, the rear wall having holes at the proximalend and distal end for storing a nail drill device, the rear wallfurther having an opening for storing a control unit of a nail drilldevice, the opening being adjacent to the holes at one of the proximalend and distal end, the rear wall further having a drawer positionedbetween the proximal end and distal end of the center console module;and two end modules that are coupled to the center console module,forming a “U” shape configuration.
 2. The work station as defined inclaim 1, wherein the end modules include a first end module havingfront, rear, top, bottom, left and right side walls, the bottom wallbeing coupled to transporting mechanisms, the rear wall having a cabinetwith a door that is coupled to one of the left and right side walls viaat least one hinge, the inner surface of the cabinet being attached witha bottle organizer, the top wall being attached with a fan and havingholes for hanging a lamp or drill.
 3. The work station as defined inclaim 2, wherein the bottle organizer includes the following: a firstsidewall having a proximal end and a distal end; a second sidewallhaving a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the secondsidewall being attached to the distal end of the first sidewall in anormal position; a top wall being attached to top portions of the firstand second sidewalls, respectively, the top wall having holes withvarious diameters, the top wall further having recesses with variousdiameters; and a bottom wall being attached to bottom portions of thefirst and second sidewalls, respectively, the bottom wall having firstand second sets of recesses with various diameters, the first set ofrecesses, the first set of recesses being aligned with the holes of thetop wall, respectively, for containing items that register through theholes, the recesses of the top and bottom walls being configured tocontain items.
 4. The work station as defined in claim 3, wherein thetop and bottom walls of the bottle organizer each having two straightsides and a semi-circular side, the two straight sides of the top wallbeing attached to the first and second sidewalls, the semi-circular sideof the top wall having at least one indentation.
 5. The work station asdefined in claim 2, wherein the cabinet of the first end module includestop and bottom shelves that are separated by a shelf, the shelf havingan electrical port that allows electrical wires to be passed between thetop and bottom shelves, the portion of the left or right sidewall of thefirst end module that is connected with the center console moduleincluding an electrical port for allowing electrical wires to passthrough from the center console module to the first end module.
 6. Thework station as defined in claim 2, wherein the rear wall of the firstend module includes top and bottom drawers, the cabinet being placedbetween the top and bottom drawers.
 7. The work station as defined inclaim 1, wherein the end modules include a second end module havingfront, rear, top, bottom, left and right side walls, the top wall havingholes for hanging a lamp or drill, the bottom wall being coupled totransporting mechanisms, the rear wall having at least one drawers forstoring at least one of the following: buffing blocks, files, tools,bottles, cotton, and trash.
 8. The work station as defined in claim 1,wherein the end modules include a third end module, the third end modulebeing a flat structure having a proximal end and distal end, theproximal end being coupled to one of the side ends of the center consolemodule, the distal end being coupled to transporting mechanisms.
 9. Thework station as defined in claim 1, wherein the top wall of the centerconsole module includes an arm rest placed adjacent to the front wall ofthe center console module.
 10. A work station comprising: a centerconsole module having front, rear, top, and bottom walls; and two endmodules that are coupled to the center console module, forming a “U”shape configuration, the end modules including a first end module havingfront, rear, top, bottom, left and right side walls, the bottom wallbeing coupled to transporting mechanisms, the rear wall having a cabinetwith a door that is coupled to one of the left and right side walls viaat least one hinge, the inner surface of the cabinet being attached witha bottle organizer.
 11. The work station as defined in claim 10, whereinthe top wall of the first end module is attached with a fan and havingholes for hanging a lamp or drill.
 12. The work station as defined inclaim 10, wherein the bottle organizer includes the following: a firstsidewall having a proximal end and a distal end; a second sidewallhaving a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the secondsidewall being attached to the distal end of the first sidewall in anormal position; a top wall being attached to top portions of the firstand second sidewalls, respectively, the top wall having first and secondsets of holes with various diameters, the top wall further having atleast one recess; and a bottom wall being attached to bottom portions ofthe first and second sidewalls, respectively, the bottom wall havingfirst, second, and third sets of recesses with various diameters, thesecond and third sets of recesses being aligned with the first andsecond sets of holes of the top wall, respectively, for containing itemsthat register through the holes of the top wall.
 13. The work station asdefined in claim 12, wherein the top and bottom walls of the bottleorganizer each having two straight sides and a semi-circular side, thetwo straight sides of the top and bottom walls being attached to thefirst and second sidewalls, the semi-circular side of the top wallhaving at least one indentation, the recesses of the top and bottomwalls being configured to contain items.
 14. The work station as definedin claim 10, wherein the cabinet of the first end module includes topand bottom shelves that are separated by a shelf, the shelf having anelectrical port that allows electrical wires to be passed between thetop and bottom shelves, the portion of the left or right sidewall of thefirst end module that is connected with the center console moduleincluding an electrical port for allowing electrical wires to passthrough from the center console module to the first end module.
 15. Thework station as defined in claim 10, wherein the rear wall of the firstend module includes top and bottom drawers, the cabinet being placedbetween the top and bottom drawers.
 16. The work station as defined inclaim 10, wherein the end modules include a second end module havingfront, rear, top, bottom, left and right side walls, the top wall havingholes for hanging a lamp or drill, the bottom wall being coupled totransporting mechanisms, the rear wall having at least one drawers forstoring at least one of the following: buffing blocks, files, tools,bottles, cotton, and trash.
 17. The work station as defined in claim 10,wherein the end modules include a third end module, the third end modulebeing a flat structure having a proximal end and distal end, theproximal end being coupled to one of the side ends of the center consolemodule, the distal end being coupled to transporting mechanisms.
 18. Thework station as defined in claim 10, wherein the top wall of the centerconsole module includes an arm rest placed adjacent to the front wall ofthe center console module.
 19. A work station comprising: a centerconsole module having front, rear, top, and bottom walls, the rear wallhaving holes at the proximal end and distal end, the rear wall furtherhaving an opening that has a height that is substantially the height ofthe rear wall, the opening being adjacent to the holes at one of theproximal end and distal end, the rear wall further having a drawerpositioned between the proximal end and distal end of the center consolemodule; and two end modules that are coupled to the center consolemodule, forming a “U” shape configuration, the end modules including afirst end module having front, rear, top, bottom, left and right sidewalls, the bottom wall being coupled to transporting mechanisms, therear wall having a cabinet that is coupled to one of the left and rightside walls via at least one hinge, the inner surface of the cabinetbeing attached with a bottle organizer.
 20. The work station as definedin claim 19, wherein the bottle organizer includes the following: afirst sidewall having a proximal end and a distal end; a second sidewallhaving a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the secondsidewall being attached to the distal end of the first sidewall in anormal position; a top wall being attached to top portions of the firstand second sidewalls, respectively, the top wall having at least onehole and at least one recess; and a bottom wall being attached to bottomportions of the first and second sidewalls, respectively, the bottomwall having first and second sets of recesses, the first set of recessesbeing aligned with the holes of the top wall, respectively, forcontaining items that register through the holes.